‘Monster turbines’ must face review
icWales|Steve Dube, Western Mail|December 6, 2006
Renewed calls for a review of the National Assembly’s policy on wind power stations have followed the announcement by Gamesa, the Spanish owned wind energy company, of plans to erect 14 wind turbines, each 603ft high, in the Upper Afan Valley.
Renewed calls for a review of the National Assembly’s policy on wind power stations have followed the announcement by Gamesa, the Spanish owned wind energy company, of plans to erect 14 wind turbines, each 603ft high, in the Upper Afan Valley.
Renewed calls for a review of the National Assembly’s policy on wind power stations have followed the announcement by Gamesa, the Spanish owned wind energy company, of plans to erect 14 wind turbines, each 603ft high, in the Upper Afan Valley.
Peter Ogden, director of the Council for the Preservation of Rural Wales, says the plans for four turbines in Glyncorrwg and a further 10 on the Gelli Mountain near Croeserw threaten the principles of the European Landscape Convention, which the UK signed this year.
“Those wanting to build the monster turbines which form the focus for this proposal, have not only completely dismissed the relevance of this important European wide Convention but demonstrated the utter contempt that renewable …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]Renewed calls for a review of the National Assembly’s policy on wind power stations have followed the announcement by Gamesa, the Spanish owned wind energy company, of plans to erect 14 wind turbines, each 603ft high, in the Upper Afan Valley.
Peter Ogden, director of the Council for the Preservation of Rural Wales, says the plans for four turbines in Glyncorrwg and a further 10 on the Gelli Mountain near Croeserw threaten the principles of the European Landscape Convention, which the UK signed this year.
“Those wanting to build the monster turbines which form the focus for this proposal, have not only completely dismissed the relevance of this important European wide Convention but demonstrated the utter contempt that renewable energy companies now have for both the landscape of Wales and the impact this gargantuan technology has on the lives of local people,” said Mr Ogden.
“Turbines are getting so big and overpowering as to be outrageous in any rural context. Their impacts on the landscapes and lives Welsh people is totally disproportionate to the miniscule contribution they make in providing renewable energy and the pitiful savings they offer in CO2 reductions. Schemes like this are leading many closer to a fool’s renewable paradise.”
He said the Assembly now has legal obligations under the European Landscape Convention to protect and manage all landscapes in a responsible manner, and called for “an urgent and complete review of the Assembly’s approach to onshore wind energy installations in Wales.”